Typewriting machine



June 1 1926.

J. A. B. SMITH TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed March 20. 1923 2 Sheets-Shget 1 June 1 1926.

J. A. B. SMITH TYPEWRITING MACHINE Filed March 20, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 X vOOn W W e/2f: Z?

Patented June 1, 1926.

r retain earner easier,

JESSE A. B. SMITH} OE STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOE TO UNDER TIOOD TYPE- WRITER 'CQMPANY, 0F YORK, N. 1 A GGBIPORATION OF DELANARE;

rrrnwn'rrruc- MACHINE.

Application filed ma. so, 1923. Serial no. ezaase.

This invention relates to typewriting machines and more particularly to mechanism for typing upon printed. forms.

When a mail-order or other house receives an order, it is copied on a uniform'invo-ice form. Usually the articles are grouped in different departments; and, in order'to en'- able a number of these different departments to work on several parts of an order simultaneously, the original order is split up in the copying, that is, it is typed upon as many separate forms as there are different items in the order. Forinsta-nce, if the original order calls for a dozen pairs ofshoes, siX hats and four suits of clothes, the typist will use three separate forms, all bearing the same serial order number, one containing the shoe item to be given to the shoe department foreXecution, one containing the hat item to be given to the hat department, and one containing the suit item to be given to the clothing department. Later these forms, together with the articles they call for, are sent to-the shipping department, the goods are identified by their order numbers, assembled and packed.

It will be seen that, if only the items calling for like articles are typed on a single form, there will only be a few lines of typed matter on each separate form. One of these lines of typing will be on the heading and the other several line-spaces lower in the body of the form. It will also be seen that if the forms were printed on separate sheets of paper, much time would be consumed in inserting the form, bringing the first writing line to the printing point byline-spacing, line-spacing again to bring the second writing line to the printing point, extracting-the form and inserting another. Were there are hundreds of these forms to be typed every day, it will be appreciated that the time loss is very great.

My invention permitsthe printing of the invoice forms on a continuous work-sheet that may be rolled on a spool or folded in zigzag fashion on the dividing lines that separate the forms. The forms may be separated from one another by weakened lines or perforations, or. may be left plain with their lines of detachment indicated by registration marks. During the entire operation that completes a plurality of these forms, the reg-- ular line-spacing mechanism of the typewriter need only be employedto advance ing lineof the second form to the printing point. It is this dual gaging operation that is responsible for the greater part of the saving in time.

Qther features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a typewriter carriage, showing my invention attached thereto.

Figure 2 is a front elevation of the ma chine shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a partial sectional view of a typewriter with my invention attached thereto.

Figure l is a detail view of the end of the carriage of a typewriter to which my invention has been attached, showing the position of the detent-lever with relation to the linespace ratchet-wheel when my invention is being used.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of a paper-guide which is part of my invention.

Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of the leading edge of a continuous work-sheet bearing printed invoice forms.

A platen 7 is mounted on a platen-shaft 8, which is 1ournaled 111 a movable carriage 9. Line-spacing mechanism, which includes an actuating pawl 10 mounted on a line-space slide 11, which is actuated by the usual linespace lever, not shown, is mounted on; the end of the carriage to actuate a line-space ratchet-wheel 12 fastened to the platen-shaft 8. A detent-releasing lever l3vhaving'a finger-piece 14 is loosely mounted on the platen-shaft 8 to displace a detent lever 15, whose detent roller 16 is normally held in engagement with the teeth of the ratchetwheel 12 by a spring 17., The usual lever and sliding cam mechanism is employed which determines the number of line-spaces the platen may be rotated by a single thrust of the slide 11. Feed-rolls 18 and 19 c0- operate with a rear paper-table 20 in feeding work-sheets underneath and around the platen 7. Mounted on the back of the rear paper-table 20, near its side edges, are brackets 21 which support a transverse paper-gage shaft 92. Right and left paper-gages 23, which have flat bodies 2 t, upstanding edges and retaining ears 26, are positioned on the rear paper-table 20. The bodies Q-l of the paper-gages 23 extend backwardly and downwardly around the upper edge of the rear paper-table 20. These body-extensions 24 have formed thereon ears 28 which are hinged to slides 29 which are movably mounted on the shaft 22. This connection permits the paper-gages 23 to be adjusted transversely of the rear paper-table 20, and also to be swung upwardly and backwardly out of the way when not in use.

Journaled in the ends of the carriage 9 is a transverse table-supporting shaft 30. Movably mounted near the ends of the shaft 30 are table brackets 31 which carry a transverse table bar The upper ends of. the table-brackets 31 have slots 33 formed therein to engage a transverse shaft 3st which is supported on the carriage 9 by brackets 35. The lower ends of the table-brackets 31 have projecting arms 36 which carry rollers 37 which rest on the platen 7. Adjustably mounted on the table bar 32 is a front pagertable 38 whi h has upstanding side guides 39 formed thereon. Mounted near the top of the front paper-table 38 is a combined gage and web-severing knife -10 so formed that the cutting edge 41 is positioned close to the table surface, while the rear edge 42 is raised from the table surface to facilitate the rapid insertion of a worksheet underneath the knife 40. It will be seen, when pressure is brought to bear on the upper edge of the front paper-table 38 while severing a work-sheet. that the upper ends of the brackets 31 will be restrained by the transverse shaft 34 to minimize that pres sure, and that the bearing of the arms 36 against the platen 7 will still further counteract that pressure. This construction, while not obligatory, is the preferred one for my invention, and provides a rigid sup port for the front paper-table 38.

Mounted on the carriage 9, in front of the platen T, is a curved guide-finger which, when swung into operative position, is fastened to prevent bulging or bowing of the work-sheet away from the front paper-table 38.

All of the mechanism heretofore described is mounted to move transversely of the ma chine with the platen 7 and the carriage 9 on rails at and -15.

Mounted on the rear of the frame of the machine are brackets 4-6 which support a rail 47. Riding on rollers 4-8 on the rail 47 is a paper-spool carrier 7'9, whose front end is hinged by means of links 50 to a shaft 51 supported in brackets 52 fastened on the bac of the rear paper-table 20. In operation, this mechanism will move transverselv of the machine with the other mechanism described and with the carriage 9. Mounted on a pin 5?) is a paper-spool 5t in which is wound a work-sheet The work-sheet 55 has printed thereon a plurality of invoice forms 56 separated from one another by lines of detachment 57. \Yriting lines, such as 58, 59 and (30, are indicated on the forms 56. The writing lines 58, 5!) and 60 may be one line-space or more apart, as is desired.

In operation, the typist places the paperspool 5%, on which is wound the worksheet 55, in the carrier 4 5). The paper-gages 23 are set to register with the side guides 35). The leading edge of the work-sheet 55 is then threaded over the top of the rear papertable 20. over the pal'ier-gages 2 in a manner to confine the edges of the work-sheet beneath the retaining ears 26, underneath and around the platen T and over the previously released feed-rolls 1!) and 18. and up the front of the platen and over the front paper-table between the side guides 3!), and is inserted under the raised rear edge -12 and made to register with the cutting edge -l-l of the knife i-O. The guide-finger 4;} is now swung to operative position in front of the work-sheet The first writing line 58 of the first printed form 56 is now opposite the printing point. In this instance it is assumed that the writingline 59 three linespaces below the writing line 58 on the form 55, and that these two writing lines are the only ones to receive typed matter. so that the typist sets the usual sliding cam lever of the line-s1 ace mechanism at the figure 23 on the scale, and moves the detent-release lever 13 to disengage the detent roller 16 from the teeth of the line-space ratchet-wheel 12.

There is now typed the first line 58 and the carriage is returned, thus causing the line-space slide 11 and actuating pawl 10 to rotate the platen three line-space distances. to bring the writing line 59 opposite the writing point. The typist new types the matter on the writing line 59 which coinpletes the typing operation for the first one of the forms The t vpist casts oti the feed-rolls and grasps the leading edge of the work-sheet 55, which was advanced three line-space distances above the cutting edge i1 of the knife 40 by the 'arriage-retiu'n operation, and pulls it forward until the line of detachment 57 between the first and second of the forms 56 is in registration with the cutting edge ii. The completed form 56 is now severed from the work-sheet The registering operation has brought the first writing line 58 of the second form 56 to the printing point, and the entire operation may now be repeated.

From this description, it will be seen that the knife ll) becomes a guide to prevent the work-sheet from falling forwardly, a gage to c'o-operate with the spaced-off wor sheet and a severing element to promote tearing otf the finished section; that during the printing and severing operations, the web is under the control of the two feedrolls 1S and 19; that during the operation of drawing the web to the severing position, the feed-rolls are cast off and the web may be quickly and freely drawn around the platen face between rear and front lateral guides that coact to square the web to the cutting edge of the knife; and that during the cutting on operation, the front table 38 provides a hand-rest wherehand pressure may be applied against the face of the unsevered web to promote a square severance of the finished work-sheet section.

It will be noticed that the typist, after threading the work-sheet 55 through the machine, has to make only three work motions, besides the regular typing motions, in order to complete a form 56, the first to return the carriage 9 and bring the second writing line 59 to the printing point, the second to gage the first form 56 to sever it and bring the first writing line 58 of the succeeding form 56 to the printing point, and the third to sever the first form 56.

It is underst0od,'0f course, that, in practice, a plurality of superimposed work sheets interleaved with carbons may be fed through the machine in the same manner, thus producing a plurality of copies of each form for various uses, and that forms other than invoiceforms, that may have a plurality of writing lines instead of only two, may be printed on those work-sheets.

Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention, and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 7

1. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a revoluble platen, feeding means to feed a continuous work-sheet which may bear a plurality of similar printed forms separated by lines of detachment, underneath and around said platen, adjustable gaging means to gage said work-sheet laterally on the entry side of said platen, said gaging means comprising right and left paper-gages having upturned outer side edges with retaining ears to retain the edges of said work-sheet, adjustable supporting means, which includes lateral work-sheet guides, to support said work-sh et on the delivery side of said platen, movable guiding means to guide said work-sheet over said supporting means, and a combined gaging and severing means mounted on said supporting means to gage said work-sheet longitucinally.

hinged paper-gages mounted to be adjustable transversely of the machine with upturned outer side ed 'es and retaining ears, adjustable supportin, ieans, which includes lateral work-sheet guides, to support said work-sheet on the delivery side of said platen, movable guiding means to guide said work-sheet over supporting means, and

a combined gaging and severing means mounted on said supporting means to said work-sheet longitudinally.

3; In a typewritmg machine, in combmm tion, a revoluble platen, feeding means to feed a continuous worksheet which may bear a plurality of similar printed forms separated by lines of detachment, under neath and around said platen, adjustable gaging means to said work-sheet laterally on the e y side of said platen, adjustable supporting means to support said work-sheet on the delh ery side of said platen, said supporting means eoi'nprising a paper-table having sections of its side edges upturned to form lateral work-sheet guides,

other sections extended laterally to form ears adjustably secured to the table, mo able guiding means to guide said work-sheet over said paper-table, and a combined engaging andsevering means mounted on said papertable to gage said work-sheet longitudinally.

4. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a revoluble platen, a movable carriage to carry said platen, Work-sheet carrying means mounted to move with said carriage to carry a rolled continuous work-sheet, feeding means to feed said work-sheet underneath and around said platen, adjustable supporting means, which includes lateral work-sheet guides, to support said worksheet on the delivery side of said platen, movable guiding means to guide said worksheet over said supporting means to confine said work-sheet within said lateral worksheet guides, and a combined gaging and severing means to gage said work-sheet on the delivery side of said platen and to sever the leading worksheet section.

5. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a revoluble platen, a movable carriage to carry said platen, work-sheet carrying means mounted to move with said carriage. to carry a rolled continuous work-sheet, feeding means to feed said work-sheet underneath and around said platen, adjustable gaging means to gage said work-sheet on the entry side of said platen, adjustable supporting means, which includes lateral worksheet guides, to support said work-sheet on the delivery side of said plate-n, movable gu ding means to guide said Work-sheetover said supporting means to retain said worksheet within said lateral work-sheet guides, and gaging and severing means to gage said work-sheet longitudinally and for severing a work-sheet section therefrom.

6. In a typeivriting machine, in combination, a revoluble platema movable carriage to carry said platen, work-sheet *arrying means mounted to move vvith said carriage to carry a rolled continuous work-sheet, feeding means to teed said work-sheet underneath and around said platen, adjustable gaging means to said Work-sheet on the entry side of said platen, printing devices to type matter on said work-sheet, linespacing mechanism to advance said worksheet, adjustable supporting means, which includes lateral work-sheet guides, to support said Work-sheet on the delivery side of said platen, movable guiding means to guide said work-sheet over said supporting means to retain said work-sheet within said lateral Work-sheet guides, and a combined gaging and severing means to gage said work-sheet longitudinally and sever a work-sheet section.

7. In a typewriting machine, in combination, a revoluble platen, a movable carriage to carry said platen, Work-sheet carrying means mounted to move with said carriage to carry a rolled continuous Work-sheet, feeding means to feed said Work-sheet underneath and around said platen, adjustable gaging means to gage said Work-sheet on the entry side of said platen, printing de vices to type matter on said \vork'sheet. linespaeing mechanism to advance said worksheet a predetermined number of line-spaces, means to actuate said line-spacing mechanism simultaneously with the returning of the carriage, adjustable supporting means, which includes lateral work-sheet guides to register and co-operate with said adjustable gaging means, to support said work-sheet on the delivery side of said platen. movable guiding means to guide said Worleslleet over said supporting means to retain said worksheet within said lateral Work-sheet guides. and a combined gaging and severing means to gage and sever said work-sheet longitudinally.

8. In a front-strike typeivi'iting machine, the combination with a platen. of introductory side guides for a \vork-web, and a webguiding and web-severing table at the delivery side of the platen, and provided at its upper edge with a \veli-severin i and web gaging knife juxtaposed to the tabl to cooperate therewith to form a guide for the Web, said table extending (lOWD from said knife to the platen, side guides for the web being provided on said table between said platen and said knife and co-operative with the introductory side guides to keep the web true when the feed rolls are cast oil' and the Web is pulled up rapidly by hand to be torn off by means of said knife; said knife in position to sever the last-typed form. and forn'iing a gage positioning the 'Cl) for the first line of typing on the next form.

JESSE A. B. SMITH. 

